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	Gallantry		Gallantry

	Walter Malt
	British Empire Medal (Civil Division)
	Date:	1945
	Colliery:	Horden Colliery
	Occupation:	Hewer

 

Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.

St. James's Palace, S.W.1..

20th March, 1945.

The King has been graciously pleased to give orders for the undermentioned appointment to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for the following awards of the British Empire Medal, and for the publication in the London Gazette of the names of the persons specially shown below as having received an expression of Commendation for their brave conduct.

Awarded the British Empire Medal (Civil Division):—

David Bryce, Hewer, Horden Collieries Ltd., Durham.

Walter Malt, Hewer, Horden Collieries Ltd., Durham.

A hewer was filling a tub with coal when a panel of stone, 5 ft. by 4 ft., fell from above and fastened him against the tub with his chin over the end. Further stone fell on the panel and he was in danger of being asphyxiated.

Bryce and Malt, who were working with the victim, immediately set to work to release him. They set stay props under the stone and tried to pull the tub out, but failed. Eventually, by lying down under the main stone and pushing at the tub with their feet, they managed to do so, thus removing the pressure from the man's throat. He was still pinned by the legs and, though the two men just managed to raise the stone with the help of planks, he was unable to free himself. Bryce then managed to keep the stones up, despite a further fall from above which had added to the weight, but Malt could not pull the man free. Further falls occurred and there was imminent danger of the whole place collapsing. The two men worked for about 15 minutes under the stone and, although they had undoubtedly saved the man from suffocation, more help was needed to get him to safety. Obtaining assistance, they managed to clear away the d'ebris from underneath and, keeping up the panel with the now heavy weight of stone ibove it, they were able, after a further forty minutes, to free the injured man. Immediately after he was drawn clear, two further falls occurred, breaking down the large stone to the ground.

Bryce and Malt showed courage without thought for their own safety and saved the life of a fellow worker.

Commendations.

Those named below have been Commended for brave conduct:—

When carrying out rescue work in a coal mine:—

Eleazor C. Dixon, Overman, Horden Collieries Ltd., Durham.

George McGregor, Hewer, Horden Collieries Ltd., Durham.

Source: London Gazette (16 Mar 1945)

Email	Researcher	Date	Interest
	Derek Iceton	05 Jan 2019	Photo of Walter Malt 1950s
	Karl Hughes	02 Apr 2023	Family history and life of Walter Malt

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